Kitchen range



May 8, 1951 F. M. PENCE ,551,

KITCHEN RANGE Filed Aug. 18, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet-l I l 2. 6/ K? II 62 F 7 TTL IT H II II 1L "/T T T I] N INVEN'TOR:

F. M. FENCE KITCHEN RANGE May 8, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1947 MZZMAZW firin /V579.

Patented May 8, 19 51 KITCHEN RANGE Frederick M. Pence, Los Angeles, Calif assignor to Thermador Electrical Manufacturing Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application August 18, 1947, Serial No. 769,106

12 Claims.

My invention relates to kitchen ranges and has particular reference to the details of construction which permit the installation of a kitchen range as an integral part of the kitchen cabinet work or kitchen drainboard.

An object of my invention is to produce a kitchen range unit which can be built in as a part of a drainboard thereby harmonizing with any desired kitchen design and permitting a greater flexibility of location and a greater flexibility of cabinet and storage arrangements.

I am aware that others have attempted to design kitchen ranges as a unit in kitchen cabinet construction. However, such attempts have heretofore taken the form of a standard kitchen range which is recessed into the adjacent cabinet units.

To the best of my knowledge no attempts have been made to produce a unitary structure containing only the essential elements of the range and which is adapted to be fitted into any desired position in connection with the kitchen structure.

My invention has a more particular reference and will be described in connection with an electrical range. .t is to be understood, however, that the general principles of my invention in their broadest aspect can be applied equally well to gas ranges as will become apparent from the specifications to follow. Electrical ranges, as heretofore known to the industry, have been produced as an independent unit, including a large and expensive cabinet.

A further object of my invention is to produce an electrical range having a minimum of cabinet construction and which can be produced at a cost far less than standard electrical ranges and yet which will be fully satisfactory from an operating and use standpoint.

A further object of my invention is to produce a built-in electrical kitchen range which can readily be installed in any desired position in the kitchen by practically any unskilled laborer.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the drawings and specifications relative thereto.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an electrical range embodying the principles of my invention installed in a tile drainboard.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the range shown r in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view showing the cover of the range removed.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line B6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line l-'| of Figure 2.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the essential features of my invention comprise a housing, designated generally it, a grid supporting cover, designated generally II, mounted on top of the housing iii, and a plurality of electrical grids 12 disposed in said grid supporting cover I I.

Referring more specifically to Figure 4, the housing it comprises a rectangular shaped box having an open top, end walls 29, a back wall 2|, a front wall 22 and bottom 23. The end walls 20, back wall 25 and front wall 22 are formed with mounting flanges 24. The purpose of the mounting flange 24 is to position the box it with respect to the surface of the recess into which the box is mounted as is shown in Figure 5, wherein the flange 2t rests on a shoulder 25. As will be seen from a further description of my invention, the exact positioning of the box l i] is not critical and considerable variation is permissible.

The front wall 22 is formed with a longitudinal slot'SEi extending across the face of the box [0, the purpose of which, as will become apparent, is for increased ventilation to prevent an accumulation of heat inside the box and to permit the installation of drip pans 3!. The drip pans 3| are essentially fiat square sheets of metal or other suitable material having a bead 32 extending around the edge of the drip pan 3|. The bead 32 prevents warping of the drip pan 3| and also acts as a retainer wall the event of an excessive spillage of fluid from around the grids l2. The drip pans 3i slide in tracks 33 which extend from the front to the rear of the box IE). The tracks 33 are formed with a substantially U-shaped channel on the bottom to receive the drip pan 3| and an upper angular section 34. The upper angular section 3 1 acts as an auxiliary drip tray so that any fluids dripping from the grids above and striking the sloping section 34 run into the drip pan 3! rather than around the edge or underneath it. The U-shaped channel of the track 33 is secured to the bottom 23 of the box Ill by any suitable means, such as spot welding, and incidentally, also serve to strengthen the bottom 23 to prevent warpage.

The central drip pan tracks 33a and 3% are covered with a substantially triangular-shaped cap 35 extending from the front to the rear of the box and formed to hook under the sloping portion of said tracks. The purpose of the cap 35 is to eliminate any possible opening between the tracks 33a and 33b to make sure that all drip pings will be deposited in the drip pans 35.

An L-shaped member it havin offset mounting lugs li and i2 is attached vertically adjacent the ends 28 of the box id but spaced therefrom. The L-shaped member terminates short of the bottom 23 and the top I l, thereby defining a tMason channel for the circulation of air from the top to the bottom, thereby eliminating the necessity of insulating the'end'panels 2c inorder to prevent excessiveheat being transmitt edtothe cabinet structure in which the range is situated. Any heat radiated from the grills l2 will be absorbed by currents of air entering the transverse slot 3!) and traveling through the space alefined by the end walls 23 and theL-shapedmember 58 and then escaping aroundthe grillsili An electrical outlet box 50 is mounted to the underside of the bottom 23 in which electrical connections are made and which communicates with the circuit to be explained later for energizing thegrils [2 by means of a riser pipe or con- The board tops. The grid supporting cover H is also 'formed'with an upwardly embossed section 53 which slopes downwardly towards the front of the'range installation and which is adapted to receive control switches 6t.

As will be'noted in Figure 2, I have illustrated a range installation'using four electrical grids and, therefore, illustratefour electrical switches "for'controllingthe electrical grids. The electrical grids i2 may be surface units, such as '55 or deep well cooker 56. The type of 'grid'or cooker and their dlsposition'will be a matter of individual choice andsuchvariations as individual choice maydictateshouldbe considered as equivalents within the'sc'ope of my invention.

For further details of'the switch installation, reference'is made toFigure '7 wherein a switch, 'designated'generally G l; is mounted in the raised sectioned. The raised section as is formed with plurality of holesilfi and concentric upwardly embossed rings 66.

"Theswitchhi may be of any standard construction having a tubular mounting stem cl 'adapte'd'to be held in position by a lock nut'tt an'dfa'switch control shaft 69 extending through 'saidtubular mounting stem 61. A substantially 'circularcontrol handle it is operatively connected to a shaft 69 and is adapted to extend outwardly over the embossed ring 66 so that any accidental spillage or drippage during cooking operations on to the handle 6 will be diverted outwardly away from' the switch shaft 69, thereby protecting the switch from contaminating influences.

In Figure 5, the switches are shown enclosed by'a metal box ll having a hole 12 formed therethrough and provided with a bushing l3 adapted to permit the entrance and exit of the wiring circuits.

The specific details of the wiring circuit are not shown herein as they are standard and comprise merely a circuit running from the box 5E3 to the switches 64 from the switches 65 in a parallel circuit to the various grids l2.

In installing the range illustrated herein a frame so is constructed having an opening approximately equivalent tothe outside dimensions of the box it] and having a shoulder running around the edges thereof adapted to receive the flanges 24. The end sections m'are formed with ite or other synthetic fabricated drain- 4 a plurality of holes 8| adapted to receive wood screws 82. The wood screws 82 hold the box in position in the constructed opening.

It will be understood' that the cover! l and the .5 box H) are assembled at the point of manufacture and need not be disassembled upon installation. The :method of assembly is illustrated in Figure 6. A corner'bracket ilfl is secured in each corner of thebox lll adjacent the upper edge. The cover 10 .l l'isformed withla plurality of countersunk holes 9! in each corner'thereof situated to register with or correspond to the location of the brackets 90. A bolt 92 is inserted downwardly through the countersunk hole 9| and inserted through a hole l5 93 in the bracket 90. A nut 94 is secured to the lower end of the bolt 92. The :nut "94 may also :be secured to the bracket to byzthe usetof-tprojec- '-ti'onwel'ding 'studsorbrazing many other suitable-mann'ersQ that they will notturn whenattempting to tighten 'the'bolt 92 or in some instanc'esif the bolt issituatedsufiicientlyclose to a downwardly extendingilip '95 and-the corner bracket!!!) and the'nut 94 will bepreventedfrom rotation-by reason ofsuch location.

When the range isinstall-ed in the-opening defined bythe frame 8i,'the end grids may readily "be removed so that acc'ess can be gained to the screws 82 for securing thebox in theropenin'g. After the screws 82have been tightened, thereby securingthe'housin [0 to the frame '80, the bolts 92 are tightenedthereb-y effecting .a water-tight sen around the periphery of the cover H and'the grids 'l2 may then be replaced.

'Thus, it will be I seen thatI have @provided a relatively inexpensive elec'tricalrange which can "b'e l'ocated as desired, and which .-is afforded a maximum of protection against radial heat without 'the use of expensive insulation and which resuits in an installation which is satisfactory from anystandpointof use without an expensive and "cumbersome cabinetandyet'which can be readily installed without the necessity of highly'skilled labor.

Having describedmy invention, what I- claim as new-and desire *tos'ecure by Letters Patent is:

1. stove adapted'forinstallation'in a horizontally rectangular supporting frame in a kitchen drainbo'ard orcounter having a space defined by said frame comprising" arough-in box having an open= top, me'ans for supporting said box on said frame, a c'overi'iplate adapted to close off said ropen'top 'and'to extend horizontally outside the periphery of the open top and-overlie adjacent portionsiof the drainboardor counter, said cover plate havingaRplurality or apertures spaced inwardly'from'th'e borders and'a second plurality of apertures relatively'close to the forward border 'heating."elements"superimposed over the-inwardly spacedapertures, *and :heating element controls so superimposed over the apertures which are close to the forward border. v

.-A- stove adapted for installation in a sup- .porting framein a kitchen drainboard'havin a space defined by said frame comprising aboxlike structure having an open top and a horizontalmounting'flange extending outwardly from said box-like structure adapted td'mOunt-Said box-'like'structure in the space onsaid frame substantially flush with the top of saiddrain'board, 7oa cover plate adapted to enclose said opening of said box-like structure and'to'ex'tend beyond the "periphery thereof tofor'm a contact with 'said drainboard, said cover plate being formed'with a plurality or -apertures; electrical heat generating 7 means mounted on said cover in said' apertures,

and a raised portion, said raised portion being formed with a plurality of apertures and a plurality of upwardly embossed rings concentric with said second mentioned apertures, and means for controlling said electrical heat generating means, said last means comprising switches mounted on said raised portion and having parts extending through said apertures, each switch having a substantially circular control handle which said handle overlies said embossed rings to prevent foreign matter from reaching said apertures.

3. An electric range adapted for installation in a supporting frame in a drainboard or flat topped cabinet having a space defined by said frame, said range comprising a box-like structure having an open top, a plurality of mounting flanges disposed about the upper edge of said box-like structure and adapted to extend beyond the edges of said aperture and to mount said box-like structure on said frame substantially flush with said drainboard or cabinet top, a cover adapted to overlie said box-like structure and extend beyond the outer limits of said mounting flanges, said cover being formed with downwardly turned edges adapted to engage the surface of said drainboard or cabinet top, a plurality of apertures in said cover, electrical resistance units mounted in said apertures, and a raised portion on said cover formed with a plurality of apertures, means for controlling said electrical resistance units said means having parts dependin through said apertures, and an upwardly embossed ring concentric with each of said apertures, each of said control means comprising an electrical switch having a substantially circular control handle adapted to overlie said embossed ring to prevent foreign matter from reaching said apertures.

4. A cabinet unit for an electric range adapted for installation in a rectangular supporting frame having plane marginal surfaces outwardly extending therefrom, said cabinet unit comprising: a rectangular-shaped metal box formed with side and end walls and bottom and open at the top and provided with outwardly projecting marginal flanges adapted to rest upon such a frame and support said unit thereon, a cover plate overlying the open top and connected to said box, said cover plate extending in all directions outwardly beyond the edges of said flanges, sealing means associated with and extending completely around the edge of said cover plate and adapted to effect a seal between said cover plate and the aforesaid plane surface, and apertures in said cover plate for the reception of electric burner elements.

5. A cabinet unit for an electric range adapted for installation in a rectangular supporting frame having plane marginal surfaces outwardly extending therefrom, said cabinet unit comprising: a rectangular-shaped metal box open at the top and provided with outwardly projecting marginal flanges adapted to rest upon such a frame, a cover plate overlying the open top and connected to said box, said cover plate extending in all directions outwardly beyond the edges of said flanges, a sealing gasket associated with and extending completely around the edge of said cover plate and adapted to effect a seal between said cover plate and the aforesaid plane surface, flanged apertures in said cover plate for the reception of electric burner elements, a raised embossed control panel formed on said cover plate rising abruptly from said plate at the rear of said panel and sloping toward the front thereof, raised annular rings formed on said control panel, electric switch control knobs associated with said annular rings, said knobs having flanges overly- 1 ing the crest of said rings to shed liquids or foreign matter therefrom, and an electric switch box l immediately beneath and supported by said control panel.

6. A cabinet unit for a range adapted for installation in a rectangular supporting frame having plane marginal surfaces outwardly extending therefrom, said cabinet unit comprising: a rectangular shaped metal box open at the top and formed with hanger means adapted to rest upon such a frame, a cover plate overlyin the open top and connected to said box, said cover plate extending in all directions outwardly beyond the edges of said box, flanged apertures in said cover plate for the reception of burner elements,

heat insulating walls at the sides and front walls of the box extending around the corners, and attached at vertical edges thereof to said side and front wall, said insulating walls being mounted upon and spaced from the interior surfaces of said box and extending vertically from a level near the top of said box to a level above the bottom thereof, whereby air may circulate up through the passageways formed between the interior surface of the box and the said insulating walls, said walls extending across both ends and the front of said box.

7. A cabinet unit for an electric range adapted for installation in a rectangular supporting frame having plane marginal surfaces outwardly extending therefrom, said cabinet unit comprising: a rectangular-shaped metal box open at the top and formed with outwardly projecting marginal flanges adapted to rest upon such a frame, a cover plate overlying the open top and connected to said box, said cover plate extending in all directions outwardly beyond the edges of said flanges, a sealing gasket associated with and extending completely around the edge of said cover plate and adapted to effect a seal between said cover plate and the aforesaid plane surface, flanged apertures in said cover plate for the reception of and support of electric burner elements, a raised embossed control panel formed on said cover plate sloping toward the front thereof, raised annular rings formed on said control panel, electric switch control knobs associated with said annular rings, said knobs having flanges overlying said rings to shed liquids or foreign matter therefrom, an electric switch box immediately beneath and supported by said control panel, means for housing electric conduits extending from the exterior of said first box to a point adjacent to the switch box, and heat insulating walls mounted upon and spaced from the interior surface of said first box extending vertically from a point near the top of said first box to a point near the bottom thereof, whereby air may circulate up through the passageways formed between the surface of said first box and the said insulating walls, said walls extending across both ends and the front of said first box.

8. A cabinet unit for an electric range adapted for installation in a rectangular supporting frame having plane marginal surfaces outwardly extending therefrom, said cabinet unit comprising: a rectangular-shaped metal box formed with side and end walls and bottom and open at the top and formed with outwardly projecting marginal flanges adapted to rest upon such a frame and support said unit thereon, a cover plate overlying the :open top: and connectedxto saidLboX; said. coverplate extending in. all. directions outwardly beyond the edges'of said flangesasealing gasket; associated with an extendingf completely: around. the' eclge of said cover plate and. adapteditoeffect; a seal-between said cover plate and the'aforesaid. plane surface, fiangeda. apertures. in said cover plate for the reception of and support. of.1elec-. tric burner elements, a raised. embossed: control panel formed on said cover I pl ate rising abruptly; from said plate at the reariof said panel and-.3. sloping toward the front thereof, raised annular rings formed on said control panel, electricswitch; control kn'obsassociated with said annular rings,

said knobs-having flanges overlying the crest of said rings to shed liquids orforeign matter there.. from; an electric; switch' box immediately be neath and supported bysaidcontrol panel, means. for housing electric conduits extending from the'exterior of said first box to. a point adjacent mounted upon and spaced from the interior SUI-.-

face of saidfirst box extending vertically from a point near the top thereof to a point near the bottom thereof, whereby air may circulate up through the passageways formed. between the surface of said first box and the said insulating. walls, said walls extending across both ends andthe from: 1 of said-first box.

9'.-A cabinet'unit for an. electric range adaptedfor installation in a rectangular supporting frame having plane marginal surfaces outwardly extending therefrom, said "cabinet unit comprising; arectangular-shaped metal box formed with side and end walls and bottom andopen atJthe top and provided with outwardly projectingmarginal flanges adapted to rest upon such a frame and support said unit thereon, a cover plate overlying the open top and connected to said box, said cover plateextending in all directions outwardly beyond the edges of said flanges, sealing meansassociated with and extending completely: around;

the edge of said c-overplate and adapted to effect a seal between said cover plate and the aforesaidplane surface, apertures in said cover platefor the reception of electric burner elements, a". bracket on the interior of the box, anut retained on' said bracket, and atightening screw extending;

from' externally of the'coverplate through the same to the nut on the bracket whereby'thecover plate may be tightened downto compress. the sealing-means against said plane surface.

10. A cabinet unit for an electric range adapted. for installation in a rectangular supporting'frame having plane marginal surfaces outwardly ex-v tending therefrom, said cabinet unit comprising: a rectangular-shaped metal box formed with side and end walls and bottom and open at the top and provided with outwardly projecting marginal flanges adapted to rest upon such a frame and support said unit thereon, a cover plate-overlying. the open top and connected to said box, saidcover plate extending in all directions outwardly beyond the edges of said flanges, sealing means. associated with and extending completely around. the edge of said cover plate and adapted to effect a seal between said cover plate and the aforesaid plane-surface, apertures in said cover plate for.

the receptionof' electric burner. elements, drip pans extending from front'tobackin the box below the burner apertures, and a drip pan divider which extends from front to back of the box in the. center thereof so'that any liquid or foreign.

.20 to the switch box, and'heat insulatin walls.

matter falling: througmthe ,burnerapertures in; the center of theboxgwillbe diverted right onleft' into thes-dripi pan areas.

1 1.. Anelectric range adapted for-installation:in.. l a rectangular: supporting. frame having plane marginal. surfaces outwardly. extending. there-, a rectangulare from said; range comprising: shaped metal box open at. the top and formed with I outwardly projecting marginal flanges. adapted to rest uponsuch a frame, acover plate: overlying theopen top andconnected-to said:;box;.; said cover plate extending in all directionseout-r;

wardly beyond the edges of said.flanges;.a sealing gasket associated with, an extending, completely 3 around the edge of said cover plate .and adapted to effect a seal between said cover plate and the aforesaid plane surface,"flanged apertures in;said-- cover plate, electric burner. elements supported on the flanges of said apertures, a raisedern-w bossed control panel formed on saidcover plate sloping toward the front thereof, raised annular rings formed on said control panel, electric switch control knobs associated with said annular rings said knobs having flanges overlying the crest of said rings to shed liquids or foreign matter there-. from, an electric switch box immediately beneath and supported by said control panel, means for housing electric conduits extending fromthe exterior of said first box to a pointadjacentto the switch box, heat insulating wallsmountcd upon and spaced from the interior surfaceeof said first box extending vertically from a point near.

the top thereof to a point near the bottom thereof, whereby air may circulate up through, the, passageways formed between the surface of said first box and the said walls, said walls extending across both ends and'the front of said box, said switches and said burner elements being adapted to conventional electrical interconnection;

12; A self-contained stove unit adapted for installation in a horizontally rectangular support-.

ing framein a counter havinga substantially rectangular space defined by said'frame compris ingasubstantially rectangular rough-inbox hav ing. a bottom, side and front walls and'an'open' top,.an'chor means adjacent the tops'of thewalls' adapted toengage said frame whereby, the box" is suspended in the frame andanchored-against removal therefrom, a cover plate larger in size REFERENGES 'CITED.

The following references are of-record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name. Date I 1,492,582 Smith May 6,1924 2,019,945: Chafee Oct. 29, 1935 2,178,411 Tietz .Oct.- 31, 1939. 2,295,378; Barnsteiner Sept. 8, 1942 2,328,129- Earle Aug.-31,.l943' 2,375,242. Lockwood etal. .1VIay 8, .1945 

